Legendary horse racing trainer in court on sex charges

Legendary horse racing trainer David "Dandy" Nicholls has appeared in court charged with groping two women at his North Yorkshire yard.

Mr Nicholls, 60, who was dubbed the Sprint King due to his huge flat racing success, is accused of unfastening the bra of one woman and grabbing her bare breast as she tried to leave his home.

He is also accused of putting his hand between the legs of another woman whilst leaning through her car window.

The trainer, who appeared at Northallerton magistrates court, “strenuously denies” the allegations which were said to have taken place at his Tall Trees racing yard and stables near Thirsk in North Yorkshire.

Mr Nicholls, who is married to former women’s champion jockey, Alex Greaves, 48, spoke to give his name and address and to plead not guilty to two charges of sexually touching the two women without their consent.

Giving a brief outline of the case, prosecutor Beth Richardson, said the first charge related to an alleged incident that took place in November 2012, while the second was said to have taken place around a year later.

She said: “The first allegation concerns an incident in November 2012 when the complainant and Mr Nicholls were together and alone. She was leaving his house when the defendant grabbed hold of her and put his hand up her top.

“She pushed him away but the defendant is alleged to have kissed her, unfastened her bra and touched her naked breast. He then put his hand down her trousers and touched her over her underwear for a couple of seconds.

“The complainant pushed the defendant away and left.”

Turning to the second charge, Ms Richardson: “The allegation is that on one occasion she was driving her car and wound down the window. The defendant is said to have leaned in through the window, touched her breast and touched her between the legs inside her thigh over her clothing.”

As far as my client is concerned both allegations are strenuously deniedMark Haslam, lawyer for David Nicholls

Chairman of the bench Malcolm Smith told Mr Nicholls that the offences carried a maximum sentence of two years in prison and therefore the case would pass to Teesside Crown Court for trial.

The next hearing will be on June 24.

Mr Nicholls left the court without comment but his lawyer Mark Haslam spoke briefly after the 20 minute hearing to say: “As far as my client is concerned both allegations are strenuously denied.”

Mr Nicholls began training horses when he quit as a jockey in 1992 following a successful career in the saddle in which he rode over 400 winners.

He started with just five horses but built up a hugely successful stable winning sprint racing’s most prestigious prizes—including the July Cup at Newmarket and the Prix L’Abbaye at Longchamp.